The Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) plans to stage six cards this year, president of the association Affeeze Khan has disclosed.
Khan said his association plans to stage tournaments every two months starting from the annual Mashramani tournament next month.
He is also hopeful that boxing coaches Terrence Poole and Carl Franklyn could receive a stipend from the National Sports Commission.
“I am hoping that the Director of Sports, Neil Kumar, or the Minister of Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony, can help with a travelling stipend for the two coaches,” he said.
He pointed out that there are amateur boxing gyms spread throughout the length and breadth of Guyana and that for talent to be identified the coaches must visit all of the gyms, which, he pointed out, was costly to the association.
This year the association will continue to implement aspects of its five year plan one of which was to increase the number of gyms in the country.
“In 2009 the expansion will continue,” said Khan, who pointed out that from 10 gyms in 2006, there are now 26 gyms countrywide all of which will be fully equipped this year.
He said the GABA had received equipment from the British High Commission, the Chinese and Brazilian Embassies and from a few corporate entities.
In July, the association will send 11 boxers to the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) games in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T).
Khan said that after the Mashramani tournament, boxers will be identified for a training camp which will run until the team wings out for T&T.
The association is also considering possible participation at the World Amateur Boxing Championships which is scheduled for Milan, Italy from August 29-September 13.
According to Khan, the culmination of the association’s five-year plan will be Guyana’s participation at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Khan said boxers will soon be identified for training under a panel of coaches with the goal being to add to the bronze medal won by Michael Parris at the 1980 Games in Moscow.
Meanwhile, the GABA will shortly begin a training programme for referees and judges which will be followed by a training session for coaches.
Khan said interested persons can contact Rudolph Torrington on telephone number 231-4652 to register.
Khan is also concerned that there is no facility to accommodate boxers from out of town whenever tournaments are staged in the capital city.
He said the boxers, some of whom are between 8-16 years of age, need a facility where they can rest, eat and bathe among other things and he is calling on Dr. Frank Anthony, in his capacity as Minister of Sports, to assist in identifying such a facility.
He also disclosed that the association will hold its annual general meeting either late this month or early next month.
